Johnny-O and the Jump-Out Boys is a group of musicians interested in bringing back the sounds of the 1950s and 1960s blues greats.

George “Harmonica” Smith. Big Walter Horton. Sonny Boy Williamson. Junior Wells. Big Walter Horton. Oh, and of course… Little Walter.

You’ll hear covers of familiar tunes and even a few that you probably never knew existed. Their show is a combination of storytelling and song, so don’t be surprised if you learn a few interesting things about the original artists who made this music so great. Come join them as they take the music…and you “back-a-ways”.

What They’re Saying about the Band:

“Thanks for taking me to Old School Chicago Blues!”
– Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin

“They serve up old school blues ‘comfort food’.”
– Dale Laslie, Owner – DJL Vintage Audio

Meet the Band

Jim Carson

Jim has played blues guitar since the 1960’s when he first heard the Chicago blues greats, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. He has played solo country blues and performed in various blues bands in the Piedmont of North Carolina. A founding member of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, he hosted the “Blues Hangover” on WNAA radio for over 25 years, before retiring in 2016. He was the guitarist for Martha and the Moodswingers, the Melva Houston Blues Band, and the Red Road Blues Band.

Besides his interest in old-school Chicago blues, he performs gypsy jazz regularly with The Minor Swing Band.

Bob Powell

Bob Powell, bass, has been a rabid fan of the blues since the late 1960s, playing in various bands along the way. His biggest influences are the Chicago and Kansas City blues styles. When not playing the bass, you can often find him with another love of his life, behind the lens of his camera, capturing musicians at work and play.

Tom Woods

Tom Woods has been playing drums for 35 years. His minimalist drum style can be traced back to his back to his beginning, learning to play on a borrowed snare. He received his primary musical education by attending numerous club shows and studying the various bands in the North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad music scene. He cut his teeth in a number of garage bands in and around Greensboro. Tom has been a fan of the blues from a young age and sites Taj Mahal, King Curtis and Champion Jack Dupree as his main blues music influences.

John Olsen

“Johnny-O”, the band leader, has been playing harmonica for a over fifteen years.  Being attracted to the blues greats after seeing live performances of BB King, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, and others, Johnny soon was drawn to playing blues harmonica. He soon immersed himself in studying the blues harmonica greats: Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, James Cotton, Sonnyboy Williamson I and II, George Smith and others.  His dream and goal since has been to get an authentic sound out of his harmonica and group that is very similar in sound to the ensembles that existed in the mid 50’s in Chicago and other such cities.

Band Schedule

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Friday, April 20, 2018
7pm – 10pm
Bistro 150
2205 Oak Ridge Road, #R – Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(Shopping Center at Hwy 68N and Hwy 150)
(336) 643-6359

Saturday, April 21, 2018
Time TBA
“Art Rocks” Fundraiser for Weaver Academy
@ the Sternberger Artists’ Center
712 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27401

Saturday, April 28, 2018
8:30pm-11:30pm
The City Tap
89 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 545-0562

Friday, May 18, 2018
7pm – 10pm
Bistro 150
2205 Oak Ridge Road, #R – Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(Shopping Center at Hwy 68N and Hwy 150)
(336) 643-6359

Friday, June 1, 2018
6:30pm – 9:30pm
RidgeFest 2018 – Day 2 Headline Act!
Oak Ridge Town Park Amphitheatre
6231 Lisa Drive
Oak Ridge, NC 27310

Saturday, June 23, 2018
Greensboro Summer Solstice
7:15pm on the Serenity Garden Stage

Thursday, August 23, 2018
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Music on Main Summer Series
Main Street Plaza, Danville, VA

PAST SHOWS:

Saturday, March 10, 2018
8pm – 10pm
Rioja! A Wine Bar
1603 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408

Saturday, February 17, 2018
6:00 – 9:00pm
Bistro 150
2205 Oak Ridge Road, #R – Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(Shopping Center at Hwy 68N and Hwy 150)
(336) 643-6359

Saturday, January 20, 2018
6:00 – 9:00pm
Bistro 150
2205 Oak Ridge Road, #R – Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(Shopping Center at Hwy 68N and Hwy 150)
(336) 643-6359

Friday, January 12, 2018
7:00 – 9:30pm
Bottle & Can
326 W. Salisbury Street – Asheboro, NC 27203
(336) 628-0522

Friday, January 5, 2018
6:00 – 9:00pm
Bistro 150
2205 Oak Ridge Road, #R – Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(Shopping Center at Hwy 68N and Hwy 150)
(336) 643-6359

Saturday, December 9, 2017
7:00 – 10:00pm
Bistro 150
2205 Oak Ridge Road, #R – Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(Shopping Center at Hwy 68N and Hwy 150)
(336) 643-6359

Saturday, November 11, 2017
8pm – 10pm
Rioja! A Wine Bar
1603 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408

Saturday, October 21, 2017
7:00 to 10:00pm
Brown Truck Brewery
1234 N. Main Street, High Point, NC
(336) 886-1234

Thursday, October 5, 2017
5:30 to 8:30pm
Revolution Burger
433 Spring Garden Street, #102, Greensboro, NC
(336) 676-6132

Sunday, October 1, 2017
4:00 to 8:00pm
Sunday Salon at the River House Inn & Restaurant
(Cost is $45 per person – includes dinner and hors d’oeuvres)
1896 Old Field Creek Road
Grassy Creek, NC 28631
(336) 982-2109

Saturday, September 16, 2017
8pm – 10pm
Rioja! A Wine Bar
1603 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408

Thursday, August 31, 2017
5:30 to 8:30pm
Revolution Burger
433 Spring Garden Street, #102, Greensboro, NC
(336) 676-6132

Saturday, July 22, 2017
8pm – 10pm
Rioja! A Wine Bar
1603 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408

Saturday, June 17, 2017
7:15 to 8:00pm
2017 Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival
Serenity Garden Stage

Saturday, June 17, 2017
8:30 to 10:00am
Great American Cookout
@ the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market
On the Lawn – $5 per plate (Proceeds benefit the GFCM)

Friday, June 16, 2017
7:00 to 10:00pm
Brown Truck Brewery
1234 N. Main Street, High Point, NC
(336) 886-1234

Saturday, May 6, 2017
8pm – 10pm
Rioja! Wine Bar
1603 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408

Friday, May 5, 2017
8pm – 11pm
Luna’s Speakeasy Restaurant and Bar
132 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27203

Saturday, April 8, 2017
8am – 11am
Gritty Blues Breakfast @ the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market
501 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, NC 27405

Saturday, April 1, 2017
6pm – 8pm
“Art Rocks” Fundraiser for Weaver Academy
@ the Sternberger Artists’ Center
(Tickets at the door – $5)
712 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27401

Saturday, March 11, 2017
8pm – 10pm
Rioja! Wine Bar
1603 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408

Saturday, February 11, 2017
7pm – 10pm
Luna’s Speakeasy Restaurant and Bar
132 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27203

Saturday, January 28, 2017
7pm – 10pm
Luna’s Speakeasy Restaurant and Bar
132 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27203